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Ask your doctor, and make sure you talk with your neurologist.
Parkinson’s can begin developing in the brain years before the usual movement symptoms become obvious. Some people may have early non-movement changes, such as constipation, loss of smell, depression, or acting out dreams. These can occur for many other reasons, however, and having one does not mean someone has Parkinson’s.
A person may also have mild movement changes without noticing them. Family members or a neurologist may notice less arm swing, smaller handwriting, stiffness, or slower movement first.
However, Parkinson’s is a clinical diagnosis. That means a neurologist normally needs to find recognizable signs during the medical history and examination. A scan, blood test, or family history cannot diagnose Parkinson’s by itself in someone who has absolutely no clinical signs.
It is not wacky to ask the question, especially if something has caused concern. Ask your doctor and make sure you talk with your neurologist.
That's a really valid question, and the short answer is: yes, it's possible. Parkinson's often develops gradually, and many symptoms can be subtle or easy to overlook in the early stages.
In fact, non-motor symptoms can appear years — or even decades — before the more recognizable movement-related symptoms show up. These Show Full Answer
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